Roundup Named 'Nation's Best'

The Payson Roundup has been named the "Nation's Best Non-Daily Newspaper" by the Inland Press Association for the second time in two years.

The contest recognizes non-daily newspapers' efforts in producing high-quality editorial material, innovative packaging and presentation, and community service as a source of entertainment and information.

The Roundup received the first-place award in the 5,000 to 10,000 circulation category. Contest judges said the Roundup had "good writing combined with sprightly graphics," and picked out three areas of strength: design, writing and "reader hooks," meaning details that grab and maintain a reader's interest.

Winners were honored at Inland's Weekly Newspaper Publishers Conference, March 1-3 in Phoenix.

The Inland Press Association, founded in 1885, is a not-for-profit organization owned by its member newspapers and operated by a volunteer board. Inland has more than 770 daily and weekly newspaper members in 49 states and Bermuda.

Editor Katy Whitehouse attributes the paper's victory to the teamwork and attention to detail that goes into each issue.

"We have an unusually talented and dedicated staff here," she said. "We set our standards high and work hard to reach and exceed them.

"With each edition, we try to go beyond standard newspaper fare to provide our readers with stories, pictures and graphics that are relevant, informative, entertaining, useful and fun.

"For the news team, this work is a labor of love, borne out of a passion for this place, its people and their stories. Surprising and delighting our readers with stories that touch them, move them to action and enlighten them about the community they live in makes this work a privilege."

Of the newspaper's most recent honor, Roundup Publisher Richard Haddad said that, "By far, our success is due to the combination of good people we have here, and it's good to see them recognized once again. This staff is like a family. All of them know they are part of a winning teamand a team that starts winning establishes a tradition of success and a legacy."